33 Buckets: Clean Water Distribution in Bangladesh

$10,042.00

Raised of $10,000 goal.

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This campaign ended on
Thursday, May. 9, 2013

In
Bangladesh, more than 77 million people have been exposed to contaminated drinking
water. In fact, a minimum of 1 in 5 deaths in the country can be attributed to water-related diseases. Of course, this is a global problem; billions of people in countries outside Bangladesh must also drink unsafe water and face the health risks that
come with it. This is where we can make a difference. 33 Buckets formed because we believe it is unacceptable that
millions of people lack access to such a basic need: clean drinking water. We
see a future we can use clean water, education, and an innovative distribution
system to inspire and empower people around the world.

Our
pilot project is located in rural Bangladesh at the Rahima Hoque Girls College.
Over 300 girls attend the school because they and their families believe that education is the path
to better their lives and their country. The girls want to get an education so they can pursue their dreams and achieve a better future. Many of the girls are interested in starting their own businesses and eventually giving back to their
community and country. However, this education is coming at the expense of the girls' health, because the water at the school is contaminated. Bottled water is available in the
markets, but it can cost up to a quarter of their families' income. Furthermore, the local
community faces all of the same issues with water that the girls at the school do. It is
unfair that some of these girls walk miles to and from school every day to get
an education at the cost of their health, or that anyone for that matter is not able to access safe drinking water. We are going to implement our first project
here to help these girls accomplish their dreams and improve the lives of the
entire community.

How it works

There are many technologies available that effectively purify water. The
problem is that these technologies aren’t reaching the areas that need them the
most because of the high upfront costs. Even when these technologies do make it to
impoverished areas, the long-term sustainability and water distribution planning are
often overlooked. Many filtration
systems are abandoned when the first breakdown occurs because there is a lack
of revenue and expertise to fix the system. In light of these problems, 33
Buckets developed a solution to optimize the way potable water is distributed.
We will provide the upfront capital required to install comprehensive water
filters in rural schools, along with helping them to establish sustainable
microbusinesses that encourage local entrepreneurs to sell affordable, clean
water in their communities. In doing this, we will create some very real,
extraordinary outcomes.

What Makes Us Different

33 Buckets' model of providing both water filters and income-generating microbusinesses sets us apart from other, larger organizations
aiming to provide clean water. 33 Buckets’ social venture approach has the
ability to support local jobs while generating profit, enabling us to
scale rapidly and not have to rely solely on donations. Additionally, 33
Buckets is focused in Bangladesh, an area that is often overlooked in favor of
its neighboring country India and other regions including Sub-Saharan Africa.

Our Impacts

Be able to provide free, clean water to students
in these rural schools, reducing the amount of time that they routinely lose to
the impacts of rampant illness and the time-consuming processes of acquiring
water where it is not readily available.

Be able to provide considerably cheaper water to
local businesses and therefore cheaper water to people, making it accessible to
more people in local communities.

Improve health by spreading awareness of the
importance of clean water, sanitation and hygiene starting with schools.
Millions of people around the world still suffer from a host of water-related
ailments, many of which are easily preventable.

Empower communities by providing them with
the basic resources they need to improve their economy. UNESCO estimates that
every $1 invested in water and sanitation results in a gain of up to $12 for
the local economy.

Improve
education in rural areas. A portion of our proceeds generated from selling
water will be put aside towards purchasing books, hiring teachers, bringing
computers, and making scholarships available. Furthermore, students interested
in business will get the opportunity to participate in a social-entrepreneurial
project where they can learn basic business skills, which they can apply later
on their own social venture.

What we've done so far

Last
summer, our team laid the groundwork to implement this project successfully by
making our first assessment trip to Bangladesh. While on site, the team was able
to obtain all of the needed technical details for the project, from water
chemistry to building specifications. Even more important, however, was the
incredible network of partners we were able to establish. We have civil
engineering students on the ground at the Bangladesh University of Engineering
and Technology (BUET) who have agreed to conduct laboratory water testing, and
a water filtration firm ready to supply and install a three-stage filter at the
school. Most importantly of all, we have the support of the local
community. The administrators and students of the school have been very
supportive and excited for our project; in fact, 200 girls applied for
admission to the school just the week after we left Bangladesh. Our partners in
the village are working to build relationships with prospective vendors and we
have already been informed that many of them will be happy to support the school by
purchasing water.

Back home, our team has support from ASU Engineering
Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program as well as faculty who are
experts in construction, water purification, and design for the developing
world. We’ve worked with the Layne Christensen Company, a world leader in water
management and construction. And last but certainly not least, Rahima Hoque
School founder Enamul Hoque, a geotechnical engineer who graduated from ASU and
resides in the Phoenix area, has been the team’s greatest mentor and champion
from day one. His support, technical knowledge, and cultural insight has
enabled our team to grow from its beginnings in an EPICS class to implementing
its first project this summer.

Timeline and Milestones

Projected Budget

We need your help to travel and purchase the necessary equipment to start our small water business. This includes containers, water filtration, water testing, and water transportation to local tea shops.

Accomplishments
and Awards

Over
the past three years 33 Buckets at gone through an incredible journey,
receiving recognition and accomplishing different things along the way. In Fall
2011, 33 Buckets was awarded the Global Innovation Award from Innocentive at a
competition which other amazing project competed in. During the same
competition next year, Spring 2012, 33 Buckets took 1st place with
the Dean’s Award of Excellence. In May of 2012, the team also travelled to
Bangladesh, to meet with the students and receive feedback for the social
acceptability of the project. Upon returning, the team competed in the Dell
Social Innovation Challenge, where they took Top 5 out of 1800 projects in the
world.

Our Campaign Has Been Extended!

Published on
Wednesday, Jun. 26, 2013 at 08:17 PM (MST)

Hello all 33 Buckets supporters!

First off, a huge THANK YOU to all of you who have joined us in our efforts by donating or helping get the word out! We're so excited to have raised over $5,500 in just over a month! Your enthusiasm and support has not gone unnoticed by the USEED team, who have generously extended our campaign by 30 additional days in order to help us meet our goal of $14,825 for our pilot project in Bangladesh! The team and all of our friends in Bangladesh are truly grateful for your efforts in making an impact in the world.

33 Buckets with the Rahima Hoque Girls' School, May 2012

$5,500 is a great start towards completing our pilot project at the Rahima Hoque Girls' School this summer. However, as of now, our team is still seeking to raise an additional $9,240 in order to meet our goal. By accomplishing this, we will be able to purchase many additional supplies such as filter materials, educational pamphlets, and water storage and transportation supplies that will let us reach thousands more people in the surrounding villages. If you have already donated, you can help us meet this goal by sharing
our campaign and our vision with family, friends, and coworkers - you
never know who is looking to get involved! If you're seeing our campaign for the first time or are still deciding on whether to make a contribution to 33 Buckets, consider that just $33 can allow us to provide clean water to four people who did not have access to it before. What's more, the World Health Organization states that the $33 you donate will directly produce at least $100-$400 for the local economy in these villages. By joining us in helping complete this project, you will be making a real and significant difference in the lives of people and communities across Bangladesh!

Thanks again for your support and we'll keep you updated on our progress this year!

Gave $100.00

Stephanie Maxwell

Gave $10.00

Judith Guthrie

Gave $50.00

Zachary Laven

Gave $10.00

Alice Strong

Gave $10.00

Martin Cisneros

Gave $50.00

Vicki Brinkman

Gave $33.00

Hayley Magerman

Gave $33.00

Sarah Dickinson

Gave $50.00

Tom & Alice strong

Gave $100.00

Shad Hanselman

Gave $33.00

15 supporters have chosen not to be listed for "33 Buckets: Clean Water Distribution in Bangladesh".

Make an Impact

Facebook Shoutout

Give $33

Thanks for supporting 33 Buckets! When you make a gift of $33 or more, we’ll be sure to recognize your generosity by giving you a thank-you shout out on our Facebook page!
Follow us to see pictures and progress on our journey: facebook.com/33buckets

Join the Bucketeers!

Give $50

$50 could provide 6 people in Bangladesh with clean water. Follow us on Facebook to see the impact your gift is making possible: facebook.com/33buckets!

Spread the Word

Give $100

$100 could help us buy marketing materials to help sell and advertise our water throughout a Bangladeshi community.

Bucket Boss

Give $250

$250 could provide over 30 people access to clean water, and would help us buy the containers needed to store the water.

Spread the Water

Give $330

$330 would help us buy the transportation required to deliver the water to local markets for distribution.

Education Sensation

Give $500

$500 could also pay for all the education materials to teach the community about water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Superbucket Sponsor!

Give $1,000

With $1,000, we could purchase the filter that will get this process started. Over 100 people would be getting access to clean water. Amazing!
We’ll recognize your investment at the $1000 level by placing your logo or name as a 33 Buckets sponsor on our Facebook page and website, as well as on 33 Bucket materials in Bangladesh.